60 Golden Eaglets Players Set MRI Test

  60 Golden Eaglets Players Set MRI Test By Editor Not fewer than sixty (60) players selected at a recent Nigeria U17 screening exercise at the FIFA Goal Project pitch in Abuja, will know their fate when Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests are carried out shortly at the team's camp. According to the team's Media Officer, Francis Achi, the 60 players in camp have been training twice daily at the venue, including a few others who come daily to try their luck on special invitation. "We have since concluded screening and now train twice daily at the FIFA Goal Project pitch inside Moshood Abiola National Stadium, under the supervision of Head Coach, Fatai Amoo. In fact, I am heading for the evening training session as we speak," said Achi. "Aside from the 60 players in camp, a few others still come from outside to train with the team, because it is possible that some of the selected players might fail MRI test and the coaches are wary about the number being reduced to unbearable minimum." Nigeria teams have over the years been seriously depleted by MRI test, leaving coaches in a dilemma and the country in a precarious position ahead of major continental and global tournaments. Recall that the dreams of 12 youngsters were aborted by the exercise ahead of 2019 U17 African Cup of Nations qualifying series, but a worse case scenario was in 2016, when no fewer than 26 out of 60 players failed the test ahead of the qualifier against Mena of Niger Republic in Abuja, with the Nigeriens eliminating their illustrious opponents over the two legs. The test claimed almost the starting XI, as Confederation of African Football (CAF) employed the sevices of independent Egyptian doctors to oversee the exercise. The Amoo-led technical team is saddled with the responsibility of building a team to last the distance, unlike most of their predecessors who fizzled out soon after winning laurels for the country. Nigeria are looking to book a ticket to 2021 U17 AFCON in Morocco at the West A Zone qualifiers holding in January 2021.